Periconceptional Folic Acid Use and Its Effects on Neural Tube Defects — Five Counties, Shanxi Province, China, 2010–2016

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC? Robust evidence indicates that supplementing with folic acid periconceptionally may decrease the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) in fetuses. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT? Over half of the mothers in both the NTD case group and the control group utilized folic acid supplements during the periconceptional period, showing no notable variations between the two groups. However, there was a significantly higher percentage of mothers with NTD cases who exhibited poor compliance in folic acid use compared to control mothers. A significantly lowered compliance with folic acid intake was observed among women facing unintended pregnancies and those with lower education levels. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE? Universal education regarding folic acid action for women of childbearing age should be strengthened to improve compliance with folic acid supplementation in the periconceptional period and further reduce the prevalence of NTDs.